Is ID poss from dragon/damselfly casing?

[Dillybythesea]

Hi! Last year we had Common Darters leaving exuvia (is that the right word?) on stalks in our nature pond, but this year the casings look different - larger and with a long piece under the chin (not the right word!). Is it possible to say what these are, please?

[Harry Eales]

Hello Dilly,

Yes, exuvia can be identified with relative ease but it pays to have to right literature, a good lens and of course actual specimens to examine.

You picture is of a Hawker exuvia, if this was from a garden size pond, I would suggest it is probably that of a Southern Hawker as they will breed in very small ponds. The underside of the jaw which you commented on, is the correct size of a 'Mask' of a Hawker Dragonfly. May seems awfully early for Southern Hawker though, certainly in my neck of the woods.

Regards,

Harry

[Dillybythesea]

Thank you Harry! Yes, I can imagine literature and lenses make almost anything possible in the right hands! (While still leaving the rest of us in a fog!)

I have one of the exuvia here with me and can add that it measures 53mm from stem to stern. I know from last week's Wildlife Sightings that locally we already have Broad-bodied Chasers, Downy Emerald, Four-spotted Chasers, Hairy Dragonfly, Azure Damsels, Large Red Damsels and Red-eyed Damsels - so now it'll be interesting to see if anyone has spotted any Southern Hawkers yet!

ATB, Rhona

[RoyW]

From what I can see, I would say that this looks more like the exuvia of an Emperor Dragonfly - a shot of the back of the head would confirm this because they have rounder shaped heads than the hawkers (which have almost pentagonal heads). The quoted size also fits very well for Emperor, but is a little large for any of the hawkers.

Emperors are certainly emerging at the moment, and have been since the start of the month. I haven't heard reports of Southern Hawkers yet but the very first ones do tend to emerge around mid May, even though most won't emerge until the end of June or later.

[Red Robin]

I reported (on WAB) a Dragonfly casing I found floating in my pond a few weeks ago. The consensus of opinion was that it was a Southern Hawker and that it was shed as the nymph got larger and not an emergence into the wonderful world of flight.

Thread with pics: Dragonfly case....

Here is the casing of an Azure Bluet Damselfly:



ID'd from the young Damselfly which emerged:

[Dillybythesea]

Well thanks to Roy and Red Robin too. Here's a pic of the back of the head... I'm not sure if it looks round or pentagonal?!

[Red Robin]

Wow! That's an excellent macro shot

That looks what I would describe as round but I am a novice at Damselfly/Dragonfly recognition.